Red Cross Talks (Page 56)

In the spring of 1999, Canada sponsored 5,000 Kosovar refugees as part of an international emergency evacuation organized by the United Nations for hundreds of thousands of civilians. Guest writer Arta Rexhepi came to Canada with her family, she shares her experience in this blog. 

Katie Hope, a Canadian Red Cross communications aid worker, reflects on her first time in the field. Read about the work the Canadian Red Cross is doing in the Philippines, as well as what goes into the job of a communications aid worker. 

Most of us remember cold, snowy weather in stark detail so the heat of summer is often a welcome sight, a warm embrace even for us Canadians. However, too much heat can be harmful, and we need to be conscious of what to do during a heat wave, not just for ourselves but particularly for our furry friends and elderly loved ones as well.

Have time on your hands this summer? Summertime is a great time for many, especially students who may have a few months of free time, to volunteer and reap its rewards. If you’re one of the lucky ones with more time on their hands in the summer, consider keeping your skills (whether life skills or more academically driven) sharp, or gain new ones, meet new people and have new experiences.

Fatima Olympia is a nurse with advanced training at Nhamatanda District Hospital in the labour and delivery ward. When Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, it brought destruction across the area, including to the hospital. In response, the Canadian Red Cross, with the support of the Finnish Red Cross, set up an emergency hospital in Nhamatanda to support the District Hospital. With about 300 babies born a month, here is how we're improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

On June 20, World Refugee Day, the Canadian Red Cross launched its new interactive, online resource, Forced to Fight. Designed for teachers and students between 13-18 years old, Forced to Fight helps explain International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and humanitarian issues by allowing the user to experience what it is like for young people living in situations of armed conflict around the world.

For Shelley Cardinal, working for Indigenous communities started when she was a child and learned of the abuse her father at residential school. The more she learned, the more she wanted her life work to contribute to addressing the harm done to Indigenous communities and help to build capacity and begin to move along the pathways of healing. 

During wildfire season it is important to keep informed through trusted, verified sources, monitor weather, listen to local authorities, and prepare to evacuate if needed. Keeping your car fueled and essentials packed for the whole family is a good start. But what can you do around the house to prepare your home?

Use these tips from FireSmart Canada to prepare your property for wildfires.